Ceiling bed



T. W. PRICE Dec. 2s, 192s.

CEILING BED- ATroRmaY4 T. W. PRICE CEILING BED Dec. 25, 1928.

VENTOR ATTORNEY v 'x1-w. PRICE camas man Filed June 1a. 192e s sheets-sheet 4 t +l-X ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1928.

T. W. PRICE CEILING BED Filed June 18, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 25, 1928.

1,696,412 T. w. PRICE. A

CEILING BED Filed Jung 18, 1926 8 Sheets-'Sheet 8 Jay/ Patented Der.. 24.5,

THORNTON W. PRICE, GF NEW BRUNSWICKQNEW CJ'JTIR'SFFSZ'.

cartine` Liann.

Application filed June 1S,

@This invent-ion relates to a ceiling bed structure, that is to a structure comprising a bed which when notl in use may be readily lifted and disposed of at the ceiling of the 5 room so as thus to leave unobstructed for other use the space previously occupied in y the room by the bed. n

An object of the invention is to provide a bed. structure of the type indicated and IO in which the operation of moving the bed between its lower position of use and its upper, or-non-use, position is accomplished by simple, substantial and etlicient mechanism.

A further object is to provide suitable safety guard means to prevent possibility of the bedmoving from one position to another except when purposely manually manipulated to that effect.

A further object is to provide safety means to prevent the falling of the bed, orof its counter-weight in the event of breakage of ,their connecting medium.

A further object is to provide an improved hoistingmechanism by which to move the bed from one position to another.

A further object is to so arrange the parts of the structure as to-embody therein a novel form of cabinet providing` guideways for the bed and its counterwveight and also providing storage space for articles of wearing` apparel and the like.

A further object is to provide novel and attractive features of construction in the cabinet portion of the device.

@ther objects and aims of the invention, more or less specihc than those-referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations. arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will bc iiu'licated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification7 and in which l have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the inventient- Fig. l is a front elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention, the bed proper thereof being shown by dotted lines inV its upper or concealed position.

1326. Serial No. 115,9l3.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bed proper shown in its lowered position of use.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating the front doors ofthe cabinet as being broken away to disclose features of the interior arrangement of the cabinet.

Fig. d is a side elevational view of the structure appearing in Fig. 3, a part of the sideof the cabinet being broken away so as to disclose features of the interior arrangement of the cabinet.

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 4 but being on an enlarged scale and taken from thel opposite side vof the cabinet, the bed proper in this instance being shown bv full Vlines in its lower position and by dotted lines inV its upper position, and the control mechanism being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially ,upon the plane of line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevational view illustrating certain of the safety features which are embodiedkin the structure.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line VIII- VIH of Fig. 6 and parts being broken away to show the construction and arrangement of the bed counterweight. f

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line X-IX of Fig. 6 illustrating structual features of the bed and cabinet. i n

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudianal sectional view through a. clutch device provided as a part of the mechanism for raising and lowering the bed.

F ig. ll is a transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of line XI-XI of Fig. l0, and

Fig. l2 is a detail sectional view of one vof the side members of the bed.

yReferring now to the drawings for a detail description of the exemplary structure illustrated therein, the reference character L indicates the cabinet portion of the bed structure comprising this invention, while the reference character G indicates the bed portion proper. f

The cabinet is constructed to provide a pair of standards l and 2 arranged atopposite sides of the front portion of the cabinet each intended tol extend substantially from floor to ceiling and being parallel with each other. These standards constitute the direct support and guide for the bed proper G.

In the instance illustrated the standards are each oi' channel cross section arranged with their flanges projecting away from each other. To the front flange of each of these standards is connected a panel member 3 at the outer edge of each of which is a corner angle 4. These panel members and corner angles provide an attractive appearance for the opposite marginal parts of the front ot the cabinet and incidentally inaterially reinforce the standards.

Intermediate the standards 1 and 2, and spaced from said standards respectively, are a pair of further corner angles 5 and 6. rlhe space intermediate these angles is occupied `by a pair of sliding doors as 7 and 8 mounted upon guideways 9 and 10 respectively, said doors being movable in overlapping paths so that either thereof may be slid to position besides the other for thereby giving access to the space within the cabinet.

From the angle 5 suitable wall members' 11, 12 and 13 extend to the panel member 3 and define a runavay 14 parallel with the standard 1 and opening outwardly through the slot 15 which occurs between vsaid standard and the angle 5.

From the angle 6 suitable wall members 16, 17 and 18 extend to the angle 4 andV define a run-way 19 parallel with the standard 2 and opening outwardly through the slot 2() which occurs between said standard 2 and the angle 6.

Rearwardly of the angle 4 are a pair oif corner angles 21 and 22. rEhe space between the angles 4 and 21 is shown as closed by a plurality of doors, drawers, etc., as indicated by the reference character 23 constituting one side wall ot the cabinet, while the space between the angles 4 and 22 is shown as closed by a side wall member 24 of which the wallportion 18 is a part.

At the back ot the cabinet is provided a rearI ywall 25 extending` between and fixed to the angles 21 and 22 but being preterably disposed to define a recess within which is adapted to slide the bed counter-weight as H.

A central partition as 2G may be provided within the cabinet for dividing it into two halves or compartments, one ot which, as 27, may be unobstructed throughout its height and used as a cupboard or closet within which to hang various articles such as wearing apparel or the like, or this space may be furnished with one or more shelves as 28, or otherwise as preferred.

The opposite compartment, as 29, may be fitted with a series ot drawers as -30 opening forwardly and accessible by sliding aside' tl'ief'doo'rsTL-fS. Above this chest of Lese/iis drawers may be arranged a shelf as 3l usable in the same manner as the top oi an ordinary bureau, ehiiionier, or the like, and above this shelf may it desired be arranged a mirror as 32. And above the mirror may be provided a` further shelf as 33 upon which articles may be laid or stored.

In order that the mirror may normally stand at the rear of the shelf 31 and yet be readily moved forward to a position of more convenient use it is shown as mounted upon a carrier 34 which is in turn carried by a toggle device 35 connected with a rear member as 3G of t-he cabinet.

The mirror has pivotal connect-ion, by its lower edge as at 37, with the carrier 34 and is furnished with retaining means, as the slotted guide plate 88 and clamp screw 39, by which it may be held in any inclined position within the limits of the retaining device.

The compartment 29 may be fitted with additional features accessible from the side ot the cabinet, as for instance it may contain a chest of small drawers as -40, and a small side cabinet with door as 41. It may have a door as 42 mounted to swing upon hinges as 43 to a horizontal position for use as a dressing or writing table. A mirror as 44 may be mounted to slide in ways as 45-45 so that when it is desired to use the door 42 asa dressing table the mirror may be lowered to a desirable level for use in association with the table, while when it is desired to use the door as a writing desk the mirror may be slid upwardly to expose a suitable arrangement ot pigeon holes or other writing desk features as 4G.

Above the mirror 44 may be arranged additional storage shelves as 47 and 48 protected by doors or otherwise as may be desired.

The bed G consists of opposite side meinbers as 49 and 50 and opposite end members as 51 and 52, and being connected together to form a rectangular frame as is customary for bed construction.

All oints of metal parts in the bed, as well as in the cabinet structure, wherever practical are formed by welding rather than by riveting or other means.

The side members 49 and 50 are each `lorined oit a body plate 51 which extemls throughout its length and has its upper loufitudinal edge curled inwardly about a reinforcing rod 52 so that it is securely fastened to said rod and thereby provides an etcient tension element extending along the upper edge ot each member. Extendingralong the lower edge ot each member is an angle piece 53 also projecting inwardly and constituting an efficient compression element as will be presently referred to.

These side members project beyond the head end member 51 and have upstanding extensions 5st at their ends, each carrying a roller as disposed to roll along the inner surface 56 ci' the inner flange of the standards l and 2. Upon each of the extensions 54. is also carried a guide roller 57 which is provided with a tiange 58 disposed. to co-operate with a flange 59 ot the roller to straddle the opposite edges oi the inner flange of the standard and thereby positively guide the roller 55 with respect to said tlange.

Projecting downwardly from Vthe side members 4l9 and 50 are other extensions' as 60-60 carrying rollers (il-6l disposed to bear against and roll along the lorward faces oi the forward flange ot the standards l and 2, these extensions being preferably reinforced by angle brackets or the like as 62 which extend from the lower ends ot the extensions diagonally upwardly into engagement with the side members at points spaced from thevhead end member 5l.

The head end member 5l is shown as consisting ot cross kplates (S3-64 which extend across the space between the two siiilemembers and project bo-th above and below the horizontal plane ot' said side members, the plate 63 being provided with a reinforcing marginal angle flange 65 as a finish therefor to constitute the head board of the bed, and the plate 64E having its opposite ends connected with the extension G0 to reinforce said extensions and having its lower longitudinal edge turned backwardly to provide a 'flange 66 to which is connected a cross member 67, as by means ot connecting angles 68-68, said liange and cross member collectively providing a suitable point of attachment for the control cable or chain 69 by which the bed is operated as will be presently fully described.

Two -further cross members 70rand 7l extend between the `side members 49 and 50 adjacent to the head and foot endpmembers respectively, these cross members serving as the immediate supports for a bed spring structure 72, and it is noted in this connection that the cross members 70 and 7l are located relatively near to the upper edge of the side members 49 and 50 and that the bed spring structure includes a series of tension springs as 73 exerting a constant tendency to pull said cross members toward cach other. 0n the other hand the relationship ot the side menibers i9 and 5() to the rollers 55 and Gland tothe angle brackets 62 is such that the weight ot' the toot end ol the bed imparts a tension strain on the upper edge port-ions of the side members and a compression strain on the lower edges of said side members. The pull ot the springs 73 acts constantly in opposition to the tensional strain on the upper edge portions of the side members so that a considerable proportion ot said tensional strainis counteracted and absorbed making it therefore posthe bed, will stretch the springs sible to use a relatively lighter side member than would otherwise be required to jwithstand a given weight of the toot portion ot the bed. And it is particularly noticeable in'this connection that any weight applied upon the spring` device 72, as for instance the weight of a mattress or a person lyin on 73 and thereby increase their pull iny eounteracting the additional strain applied upon the tension element or upper edge portion ot the 's i de members.

The mea-ns of attaching the control cable or chain 69 with the bed comprises a safety element as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 This consists of a pair ot toggle levers as 7 4-74 which are pivotally connected together at one end by a pivot pin 7 5, which also connects said levers with the lower end of the chain 69.k A tension spring 76 has its upper end connected with the lower end of the chain and its lower end engaged about a cross pin 77 which is fixed between the cross member 67 and the bracket piece 78 carried by the flange 66 of cross member G4.

Connected with the bracket piece 78 ,is a standard 79 at the upper end of whiehis a slot SO along which the pivot pin 75 is arranged to slide under possible contraction and extension of the spring 76.

The levers 74 extend diagonally downwardly from the pivot pin 75 to the opposite ends of cross member 67 and the outer ends of the levers having sliding engagement within guides 81-81 and are so arranged that in the eventof contraction of the spring 76 they would be forced outwardly away from each other for engaging the teeth of rack bars S2-82 which are formed upon the standards l and 2 to receive them.

Accordingly, in the event of breakage of the chain 69, which would remove the strati holding the spring 76 extended, the levers would be instantly projected outwardly by the spring and serve to positively hold the bed against falling.

he chain or cable 69 extends upwardly rfrom the bed over a pulley 83, thence backwardly over an idler 84- and the counterweight H is attached to its opposite end.

The counter-weight H may be made up in any desired form but preferably consists of a pair of side plates 85 and S6 which extend for substantially the full width between the corner angles 2l. and 22 of the cabinet and carry at their ends suitable flanged rollers as 87-87 for rolling along the inner edges ot said corner angles to guide the counterweight.

Intermediate these plates are arranged other plates as 88-88 for desirably increas ing the weight et the counter-weight. The plates 88 are arranged in pairs spaced apart so as to provide a central space within which is located a pair of toggle levers 89-89 simillt! lar (o the levers ?/1-'T-1, said levers 39-89 being connected together and to the end of the cable or chain b y a pivot pin 907 and eo-operating with a tension spring` 91, and having tl eir opposite ends slidable for engaging racks 92-92 in the same manner and for the same purpose as described with reference to the other counter-weight, that is to say, that in the event of breakage of the cable or chain 69 the levers 89 99 would instantly move outwardly into engagement with the rack bars 92 and support the counter-weight against falling.

lVhile the bed may be readily manually moved up and down by manual effort applied directly to the bed it is preferable however to provide a suitable handle appropriately connected to accomplish this result7 and to this end a rotary handle 93 is shown herein operating` through appropriate mechanism to move the bed either upwardly or downwardly according to the direction of the rotation of the handle.

The handle 93 is mounted in a bearing 94 preferably at the right hand side of the cabinet and has connected therewith a sprocket wheel 95 over which engages a sprocket Chain 9G, said chain extending upwardly and about a second sprocket wheel 97 arranged co-axially with the pulley 83, said sprocket wheel 97 being carried upon a shaft 98 so that said shaft may be readily rotated backwardly or forwardly by corresponding rotation of the handle The shaft 9S carries a yolre member 99 providing a pair of arms 100-100 which extend longitudinally in the direction of the shaft beyond the end of the shaft and into lined engagement with a sleeve member 101, said sleeve member being loosely rotatable upon a separate shaft 102 which is mounted in bearings 10S-103 to stand coaxial with the shaft 98, said shaft 102 having the pulley 83 rigidly connected therewith` Mounted upon'the shaft 102 is a second sleeve member as 101 similar'to the sleeve member 101 but beingr fixed to the shaft as by means of a locking pin 1.05. Between the sleeve members 101 and 104 is arranged a ratchet wheel 10G mounted to rotate loosely with respect to the shaft 102 but being held by a pawl 10T, which engages the teeth thereof, against rotation in one direction.

The direction in which trie ratchet wheel 100 is permitted by its pawl to rotate is the direction in which it would move when the bed is being lifted, the pawl being effective to prevent it from rotating in the direction in which it would endeavor to rotate when the bed is being lowered.

Each of the sleeves 101 and 101- is provided with an enlarged annular po i 108-108 providingl flat clutch faces 109 .109 opposed to each other and arranged to of said shaft 98. This collar has its annuylar edge which is opposed to the annular edge of the sleeve 101 in rubbing engagement with the annular edge of the sleeve, and the two opposing surfaces are inclined as at 111 and provided with resultant opposing shoulders as 112-112 said parts being arranged and adapted so that when the shaft 98, and with it the sleeve 101, is rotated in a direction to lift the bed the sleeve 101 and collar 110 will be cammed away from each other while when the shaft 98 is rotated in the opposite direction the sleeve and collar will be allowed to move toward each other and bring shouldn-s 11i/)#112 together.

By this arrangementit follows that by rotating the handle 923 for lifting the bed the consequent initial movementof shaft 9S will cause a slight separation of the sleeve 101 and collar 110 sufficient to press the clutch faces 109-109 against the interposed ratchet wneel and thus effect a driving connection between the shafts 98 and 102 whereby the continued rotation of shaft 98 will drive the shaft 102 for lifting` the bed, it being noted here that the pulley S3 is provided with suitable gripping teeth or the like as 1.1.3 by which it is enabled to positively drive the cable or chain 69, that is said gripping teeth are intended to prevent any slippage of the chain or cable about said pulley.

lhen the handle 93 is rotated in the opposite direction for lowering the bed the consequent change of direction of rotation of shaft 98 will be initially felt by the sleeve 101 and, as a result of the inclined or cam engagement between said sleeve and collar 110 will cause said sleeve to ease away from the ratchet wheel 106 and bring the opposingl shoulders 112-112 of the sleeve and collar together so that continued rotation of the shaft 9S will drive the shaft 102 for lowering the bed without requirement for rotation of the ratchet wheel 10G.

And now it will be apparent that any tendency of the bed itself to move downwardly, as for instance when an unusual weight is applied on it in the way of extra pillows, mattresses, or otherwise, will be prevented by the mechanism described, that is to say that the effort of the shaft 102 to rotate in a direction for lowering the bed will be applied by the collar 110 as a force for moving the sleve 101 toward the sleeve 104. This will p the ratchet wheel and since the ratchet wheel an not turn in that direction the rotation of the shaft will be prevented. find the stronger the force applied tending to rotate the shaft the greater will be the grip upon the ratchet wheel so. that undesirable downward movement of the bed in the manner referred to is positively prfwented.k

The effectiveness of this guard against downward movement of the bed may even be considered to extend to the en'iergency ol' possible detachment ofthe counter-weight at any time since the loss of the counterweight would merely havetlie effect of applying added weight to the bed.

As a further precaution against possible unintentional movement of the bed away from either of its extremes it is proposed to provide a pair of simple manually operable latches 114 and 115. Thelatch 114 is mounted adjacent the upper end of the standard 2 and is adapted to engage beneath the adjacent sidemeniber 50 of the bed for hold ing the bed in its upper position while the latch 115 is mounted upon the standard 2 adjacent the lower end of said standard and is adapted for engaging the side member 50 ofthe bed for holding thebed in its lower position. Each of these latches is provided with a spring as 11G for holding it in a normal position against a suitable stop 117, the latch 1141 being furnished with a pull chain 118 by which it may be readily operated notwithstanding` its elevated position, and the latch 115 being provided with an operating handle 119.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a ceiling bed which combines into a single unit not only the bed proper but also other practically indispensable features of furniture for a bed room, such as a closet, a bureau or chifonier, a dressing table, a desk, shelf space, etc. And it is apparentthat if desired the cabinet part of the structure might be formed to include a china closet, a kitchen cabinet, or other features which might be preferable in case the device is to be used as an article of furniture in a dining room or kitchen.

In so combining all of these features l have greatly econoniized in the use of floor space, and yet I have provided means b i which the bed proper is at all times maintained in a horizontal position, thus eliminating the necessity for, any mattress clamps or other devices which are usually required for bed structures in which the bed proper is designed to be swung in turned on edge.

rIhe device here described may be manufactured as a single article of furniture and placed in any room desired, without requirement for any special featuresk of wall construction in the room. By arranging simple wood fillers 120-12O between the upper rear end of the cabinet and the ceiling all possibility of over-balancing of the cabinet will be avoided.

The standards upon which the bed is directly mounted and along which the bed slides at all times `ar so incorporated into the cabinet structure to' constitute elements of ornamentation upon the cabinet, and the entire operating mechanism of the device is guarded and concealed.

lf desired a suitable canvas or other covering medium as 121 may be arranged beneath the springs for concealing the springs and presenting' a proper appearance when the bed is in its elevated position.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing' from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

A. simple form of enclosing canopy, as 122, may bearrai'lged at the ceiling for receiving and obscuring the bed structure when the bed is in its elevated position.

ln somo instances it may be preferable, instead of utilizing this canopy, to provide a recess in the ceiling to accommodate the bed and the upper portion of the cabinet in a position so that the bottom surface of the led will occupy a plane more nearly' in common with plane of the ceiling.

The downwardly extending members GO from the sides of the bed may if desired constitute legs at the head of the bed to rest upon the floor when the bed is in its lowered position. Owing to the cantilever construction of the side members of the bed no legs whatever are shown, or desirable, at the foot of the bed, it being intended that the tension at the upper edges of the bed side members, resulting from the cantilever beam action 7of imposed load shall be largely neutralized or offset by the compressive action resulting from a load imposed and held in suspension on the bed springs.

The various special features, such as the bureau, desk, etc. may if desired be built as separate entities and adapted to bc attached in position within the metallic frame work of the cabinet, in this way the special features installed may be suitable for either typical bed room use, or typical dining room use, or kitchen use, etc.

In the manufacture of this article the cabinet structure and the bed proper may be made up as separate entities and the bed be assembled in operative position only a Iter the cabinet has been properly set. For this purpose it is intended that the ulnvardly eX- tending members 54, and the rollers 55 and 57 carried thereby shall be detachable to permit the introduction of the head ends of the bed side members into position through thel slots 15 and 2O whereupon the rollers and their carrying parts may' be attached as by mea-ns of suitable fastening means 123 Cit illustrated. Access to 'the interior portion of the cabinet for these parts may be provided by side door's such as that indicated 4:1 in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the class described, comprising a bed, means by which the bed is mounted for bodily up and down movement, a counter-weight for the bed, a cable device connecting the bed with the counter-weight and operating means engaging the cable by which to move the cable for thereby raising and lowering the bed, the combination therewith of parts comprised in said operating means effective to prevent lowering of the bed except as the result of an operation of said operating means, means to prevent downward movement of the counter-weight in the event of failure ot the cable, and a portable support for all of said parts with the bed at one side thereof and the counter-weight at the opposite side thereof whereby the whole constitutes a unitary portable article of furniture.

2. A device of the class described comprising a bed, supporting means by which the bed is mounted for bodily up and down movement, a counter-weight for the bed, a cable device connecting` the bed with the counter-weight, operating means engaging the cable by which to move the cable for thereby raising and lowering the bed, a latch adjacent the lower end of said supporting means for interengaging between the bed and said supporting means when the bed is in its lowerinost position to hold the bed in said lowermost position, a handle by which to release said latch, a second latch adjacent the upper end of said supporting means when t-he bed is in its uppermost position to hold the bed in said uppermost position, and an operating device for said second latch depending downwardly therefrom to a position of accessibility adjacent the iirst latch.

A portable article of furniture comprising a cabinet structure providing storage space interiorly thereof and providing substantially vertical guide-ways at the front and rear of said storage space, a sleeping bed movable along one of said guideways into and out of a position of use, and a counter-weight for said bed connected therewith and movable along the other guide-way.

A device of the class described, in combination a ho 1izontally disposed sleeping bed, a portable carrier for said bed adapted to rest upon the floor and providing a vertical guide-way along which the bed is adapted to travel into and out of a position of use while maintaining its horizontal position, the hed being arranged with one end thereof adjacent the carrier and the remainder of the bed at all times projecting away from the carrier, rollers connected with the bed at the mentioned end thereof engaging said guide-way to facilitate movement of the bed along said guide-way1 a counter-weight also carried by the carrier, a single cable extending from said mentioned end of the bed to said counter-weight whereby the weight of the bed is balanced by the counter-weight, and the counter-weight being spaced from the floor engaging portion of the carrier and at the side of the carrier opposite the bed, whereby to balance the carrier against tei'ii'lency to tilt toward either the bed or the co`unter-\,veiglit.

fr device of the class described, comprising a horizontally disposed. sleeping lied, means whereby said bed is mounted for bodily vertical movement into and out of a position of use while maintaining its horizontal position, ,said means comprising a stationary vertical standard disposed at one end of the bed providing one guide-surface facing toward the bed and an opposite guide-surface facing away from the bed, the bed having a part movably engaging the face of the standard toward said bed, the bed having a second part spaced above the first part and movably engaging the face of the standard which is directed away from the bed, said two mentioned parts of the bed being in iixed relation to each other and to the hed whereby to support the opposite end portion of the bed by means of said standard during movement of the bed along the standard, the bed including a frame member extending longitudinally from end to end thereof having said mentioned guideway engaging parts fixed to one of its ends, and said frame member having a'. tension element extending along the length of its upperl edge, a compression element extending along the length of its lower edge and an intermediate web portion connecting said tension and compression elements and spacing said elements apart.

G. A device of the class described, comprising a horizontally disposed sleeping bed, means whereby said bed is mounted for bodily vertical movement into and out of a position of use while maintaining itshorizontal position, said means comprising a stationary vertical standard disposed at one end of the bed providing one guide-surface facing toward the bed and an opposite guide-surface facing away from the bed, the bed having a part movably engaging the face of the standard toward said bed, the bed having a second part spaced above the first part and movably engaging the face of the standard which is directed away from the bed, said two mentioned parts of the bed being in iixed relation to each other and to the bed whereby to support the opposite S il llt)

end portion of the bed by means of said standard during movement of the bed alon` the standard, the bed including a traine member extending longitudinally from rend to end thereof having said mentioned guide- Way engaging parts fixed to one ot its ends, said frame member havinga tension element extending along,` the length of its upper edge, a compression element extending` along the length of its lower edge and an intermediate web portion connecting' said tension and compression elements and apacingl said elemente apart, and a tension spring` connectingY opposite end portions et said `lrun'ie member disposed adjacent to the tension element thereof and adapted to receive and be tensioned by a superpofied Weight ap plied to the bed to thereby partially relieve tensional strain upon said tension element in the presence of Said Weight.

7. A portable article oli furniture compris ing a cabinet structure providing` storage space interiorly thereof and providing` guide-ways at the front and rear of said storage space, a sleeping` bed movable along one of said guide-Ways into and out of a position et use, a counterwveight for said bed connected therewith and movable along the other Guide-way, an auxiliary article of furniture, and means whereby said auxiliary article of furniture is supported in said space in position to constitute a Wall part of cabinet structure.

8. A portable article of furniture comprising a cabinet structure providing storspace interiorly thereof and providing,` guide-Ways at the front and rear of said storage space, a sleeping hed movable along` one ot said guide-Ways into and out of a po 'tion of use, a eounte1-\veiglit for Said bed connected therewith and movable along' the other gui 1le-\vay, and an auxiliary article ot 'furniture arranged in said space obstructed by the bed When the bed is in position of use but accessible when the bed moved out or its position ot use. in testimony whereof I alix my signature.

THORNTON W. PRICE.' 

